Laugh and laugh a lot.
Use this gift as often as you can.
If you want to get closer to your family, your children, your spouse, your friends -- laugh with them (laughing at other people's expense doesn't count -- that is what we can call ridicule laughter. And that is nasty stuff. That doesn't produce anything good).
Real laughter -- the kind that comes up when you are with your loved ones and just being human and you can laugh at yourself -- that is bonding kind of laughter.
People know when you are enjoying them or just tolerating them. Enjoy people. Enjoy your kids. Give them your full attention. Laughter will come out of this.
"A time to tear down, and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance." Ecclesiastes 3:3b-4
If you've forgotten how to laugh ask God for help. Ask God to bless you with laughter. Ah what joy!
We don't have to go looking for tearing-down times and weeping and mourning times. Those will come on their own. But it is a great idea to look for times to laugh together. We need laughter. Our bodies and minds and emotions need laughter. If you can't remember the last time you've laughed it has been too long.
Yesterday I spent the entire day with my oldest daughter (the one in the picture with me) and my middle son. On the way home (a four hour drive) we laughed. Why? We didn't plan it but we laughed. We got silly. It was wonderful! 2013 had a lot of sorrow in it for us. It was a tough year. It was a particularly tough year for my daughter. But 2014, ah, it is going to be a good one.
I pray you will experience the joy of laughter this year -- even today. Ask for it. God will give it. Even in the midst of tragedy we can experience that joyful gift of laughter.